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'Bill of Rights' requires tweaks

VIN
11:05 p.m. EDT June 5, 2014

A lagoon home on Little Egg Harbor Boulevard in Tuckerton sits partially in the lagoon after being blown off its foundation by Hurricane Sandy in this photo taken in November 2012.
(Photo:
PETER ACKERMAN/APP
)

Senate President Steve Sweeney's quest to convince Republicans to override Gov. Christie's veto of Sweeney's Sandy Bill of Rights legislation for storm victims has predictably failed. Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean Jr. sent Sweeney a letter explaining that GOP lawmakers in the Senate wouldn't defy the governor because Sweeney's bill was riddled with too many potential violations of federal laws.

Sweeney responded by calling the Republicans cowards too afraid to go against the governor.

This is one case where both sides are both right and wrong.

Sweeney's bill has many worthy elements broadly designed to provide more transparency to the distribution of Sandy aid, which has been poorly administered from the beginning. Even GOP lawmakers agreed — the bill was approved by both houses without a single dissenting vote. But Christie is embarrassed by the accusations of state mismanagement of Sandy aid programs and has tried to lay the blame elsewhere. He doesn't want a Sandy Bill of Rights because it implies there's a need for reform.

If Christie's conditional veto had focused solely on those federal entanglements, we might believe his concerns were truly limited to the legalities. But he wanted to kill the bill, which is why he proposed more than 150 changes, many of which had no chance of gaining support from the bill's advocates.

So Sweeney's justified in his frustration. The truth, however, is that the bill is significantly flawed, in large part because of those conflicts with federal regulations. Republicans have good reason to cite those concerns as a reason for their opposition to their override.

But why did the same Republican senators ignore those concerns and support the bill the first time around? They didn't realize the conflicts existed until Christie pointed them out? Or were the original votes for show, feigning support for storm victims while knowing the governor would shut it down with his veto pen.

Sweeney's also right that Republicans are afraid of Christie. Many have explained that the governor runs a tight ship keeping his own party in line — and any hint of rebellion will be punished.

No Christie veto has been overridden yet, and keeping that streak alive has sometimes required Republicans to reverse their original votes.

Supporters portray Christie's brand of leadership as tough and savvy, exhibiting an understanding that the minority party needs to stick together to wield some influence. But there's a vengeful quality to the process that should give New Jerseyans pause even if it doesn't bother legislators.

So yes, Republicans are afraid, but yes, the override should stand. A Sandy Bill of Rights should be adopted, but not in its current form.

A final version will require compromise. That may prove a daunting challenge given the emotions involved. While politicians bicker, it will be the storm victims suffering.